Building a Home: weeks 11-16

The exciting stuff is happening now!

Week 11:
So we ended with the sheet rock being hung. Naturally, the mudding and sanding happened this week. These guys work so fast! They were there just a couple days and had most all of it done. However, there were some areas that had not been sheet rocked yet. The wall next to our stairs had been framed wrong and needed to be fixed and then an area in a closet needed to be sheet rocked to cover a pipe. Also, three doorways/large openings hadn't been sheet rocked because they thought casing was being put there and it was not. So it was so frustrating and caused a delay in painting. We were having to wait on them to come hang the sheet rock because the mudders don't hang sheet rock. But when the sheet rock hangers were there the areas hadn't been re framed. Then at the very tail end of the week the trim guys came and did about a third of the work on baseboards and doors. Painting and more trim could have been done this week if all the sheet rock stuff had been done.

love the doors!

You can see the added sheet rock that hasn't been mudded yet on right

 

End of week 11

 

Week 12:
  Nothing really happened this week other than the above mentioned sheet rock getting hung. It was rough watching nothing get done. Tyler was really hoping to be able to do the hardwood floors the next week during fall break. So we were stressed a little about when the rest of the mudding and painting would get done.

I am not sure if this happened this week or not but one weekend Tyler and his dad dug a trench for a water line to go out to the shed back behind the house. Ansley had to help, too!

Week 13:
   At the beginning of the week, painting happened! Another exciting detail to see get done. Although, we are not happy with a couple colors. They were so bright and glowing that they were hard to look at even! Not sure what exactly happened when we chose those. I think on the swatch they look more toned down. So we are working on getting those changed and may be doing some painting ourselves! The main color downstairs looks nice, though. I love how clean the floors, trim and doors look with it. Thankfully, this meant Tyler was able to start floors! Along with painting, they came and put up gutters and the new posts across the front porch.

You can see the tan paint here with the beautiful floors!

The other paint colors will be in later pictures.

 

This is Brad that coaches with Tyler. You can also see the white wrapped posts.

   
So this week was busy on our part, as well! Tyler, his dad, his brother and a fellow football coach laid the hardwood floors in the house. Our entrance hallway, kitchen, eating area and family room are all hardwood. Then upstairs we did Garyn's room and the hallway. Garyn has asthma and allergies so we didn't really want to put carpet in there. I personally like carpet in bedrooms so I was completely fine with letting Garyn get that luxury.

So here is the end of week 13!

Week 14:

 
 
 
     Another slow week here, the door knobs were put on the doors inside and halfway on the outside doors. And the biggest thing was that the final grading was done outside. We no longer have a dirt or sand pile! Both kids noticed right away and were sad!

 

 

Couple of pictures showing the grading done, gutters and posts. Still waiting on the shutters for the upstairs windows, as well.

 

 

hallway bathroom door with knobs

 

 

 

Week 15:

    This week we got the carpet and linoleum installed. I was happy with the finished look. I had chose these two items back in May so I had already forgotten exactly what it looked like. We chose to do linoleum to start with for the sake of time and money. Tyler has always tiled the bathrooms at our other homes but with doing the hardwoods and football; we weren't sure he would have time. Also, we would be paying for all the flooring out of pocket if we chose to do hardwoods everywhere and tile, as well. I am so happy with our decision because it looks good and we can change it just as easy in a couple years when Tyler needs something to do!

This is the laundry room with linoleum

This is Ansley's room, paint will be more lavender, like I originally thought it would be!

And this is our room which will be a different blue

They also came and put our heating and air units in. We now have thermostats that tell us how cold it is in the house! I have seen it as low as 41! Needless to say I can't stay long with kids!

And lastly, the gas logs came for our fireplace. If only they worked!

 

And the end of week 15:

 

 

Week 16:

 

We had an exciting week with the cabinets coming and it was on my birthday!! Just loved seeing them in place. With that came the bathroom counters and toilets. We do not have our granite counters in the kitchen yet but will hopefully next week. We have begun packing and trying to prepare to move. I am so ready!

 

Kids bathroom

our bathroom

 

corner area of cabinets

Microwave!

 

Dishwasher

sink in hallway bath

 

And I didn't get an end of the week picture, but I got some pretty cool pictures of the kids in the front yard.

 

 



The scenery is just beautiful all around. I can't wait to be able to sit on my

front porch and watch my babies play.

Month by Month : Layne is 3 months

Last Friday, Layne turned three months! This is a fun age for babies, you finally know all there likes and dislikes and they start giggling and playing more. However, they also change up their schedule some keeping you on your toes still!

Layne is such an easy going guy. He only cries when you have really ignored him or if he gets scared. By that I mean, a loud noise or something (usually his screaming sister). Most of the time though, he'll just start to fuss and you know its time for nap or to eat or to move him to a different spot.

He is still sleeping about 6 hours to begin with at night. And then wakes up at 3 hour intervals after that. So most nights he eats around 9-10 and then 3 and 6. Again, I say most because some nights he eats later then 10 and gets up after 3 or vice versa. He still goes right back to sleep really well. He has had somewhat of a cold lately and we had a couple nights were he slept on me some. Also, he rarely uses the paci at night. When in the car, which he isn't fond of, he uses the paci more. Granted, we are in the car a lot so I can't blame him. :)

Layne has discovered his hands and is constantly working them around trying to grab things and bat at his toys. With this discovery comes pulling at my hair which coincidentally is falling out after thickening during pregnancy. So all the time I am finding my long hair in his fists and am trying to keep it away from his grasps. His bouncy seat still entertains him for awhile because he likes to hit the colorful animals hanging in front of him. I have never put batteries in it, actually, to make it vibrate. We didn't have any D batteries and he seems to not mind! We have gotten the swing out of storage in the past couple weeks and he always falls asleep in it. He has slept almost 3 hours in it before! If I don't turn it off, he doesn't wake up. He is also sitting up better in his BeBe Pod. He crunches up to a sitting position all the time when you are holding him, in his car seat and when in his boppy pillow. When laying flat, he'll turn to his side but hasn't turned all the way over yet.

His hair has grown back on the top but has now fallen out around the sides so he looks like he has a "high & tight" cut. His eyes have become darker like a green/grey color. We all agree he looks most like his daddy. However, he still favors his brother's baby pics, too.

Layne on top 2, Garyn on bottom

Size wise- He was 16 lbs 4 oz with his clothes on at the doctor last week. Garyn was 16 lbs at 3 months so they are staying about the same on growth. He is wearing size 2 diapers and 3-6 mo clothes. I love being able to put him in Garyn's clothes, so cute to remember Garyn in them and compare how they look alike.

Layne started giggling about 2 weeks ago. We are able to get it out of him easier now but it is still not all the time yet. He will smile constantly at you, though. He has learned how to fuss for attention and then start smiling once you give it to him. We call it playing opossum.

We just couldn't be happier with our little guy and love watching him grow!

Building a home: Weeks 6-10

Are you ready for a house update?! I know the few of you who read this are because you have told me in person! I have been dreading updating this because the further I get behind the longer it will take and harder it is to remember! But I primarily write on this blog so that we can look back and remember these days of our life.

So to begin....
In the last post, we had finished Week 5 and there were interior walls framed.

 Week 6:
To the best of my memory, the only thing that happened week 6 was the roof being put on and the doors and windows were delivered. I was so excited to see the doors and windows in person inside the house. You know, every little detail is exciting as you are building! Finally seeing what's on paper in real life!

doors stacked up

 

 

So this was the end of week 6!



Week 7:
This was a busy week with electrical, plumbing, and heating and air guys there. They did a "rough in" of everything before sheetrock was placed. So we were able to see where light switches, vents, outlets, and such were going to be.

return for AC unit

Laundry room plumbing and wiring

Oulets and such

 

You can also tell from those pics that the doors and windows got put in...

 

Bay window/ eating area and the sliding glass door to deck

Outside view of same

I decided to start a little progression photo shot here in the bay window since I already had a couple of the kids in this spot. I know/knew our outside picture wouldn't show all that was transforming on the inside.

 

 

Couple of other fun things this week were the bathtubs and fireplace getting installed.

 

Thought it was fun to take a picture of it out in front yard. One day when we revamp (like 20 yrs from now, hahaha) we can look back at its pearly white beginning.

kid's bath

My larger garden tub.

Fireplace with a view of plumbing above. (and Ansley changing her baby)

 





                                              End of week 7, crocked view of it at least!

Week 8:
Siding!! I was anxious to see this since we made a color change on the fly. The original color we chose was discontinued and from memory alone we picked this new color over the phone. I had remembered liking it but still wondered exactly how green it would look.

I just love it and am glad the other got discontinued!

 

 

The above pic was actually taken towards the end of week 9, the first part of siding was started on a Friday of week 8 and the side you don't see in our picture was done. So we didn't take a picture out front for week 8 nor 9 & 10! We kept forgetting the real camera. But I will be getting one this week for sure!

Week 9:

The next week was inspections for the plumbing, electrical, HVAC and framing. This was the first week that went slow. Everything else had happened so quick that we felt the brakes had been put on or something. It's all still on schedule since other weeks went so quick but its hard to remember that when you see days of no work.

So all I can remember happening was installation.

 

 

 

I know now what my house would look like pink! Tyler also worked on a box above the mantle and behind the TV spot for our DVR/DVD boxes. You will be able to see it in a later picture.

 

 

I wanted to remember some other parts of the building process. Our kids think of the property as one big playground right now.

 

One of their favorite spots is the large dirt mound from the grading work that will eventually be gone. I know Garyn, especially, will be unhappy about that. They like to climb up and feel they can see everything and are on top of the world!

 

Another spot is right next to the dirt pile and its the sand pile. It never fails that they both have their shoes and socks off playing in it, even if I say not to. We are going to have to relocate this sand somewhere else cause it really keeps them busy and happy!

 

 

Another area is, of course, the swing set area, which has been there for awhile. We call it the knoll. Almost every time we are there, we go up to the knoll so the kids can swing and slide. I love that there is nothing else for me to do (normally) but to play with them. We are away from hectic life, i.e. laundry, cleaning, cooking, other distractions and such. And we have a beautiful view all around us. We have a picnic table there that Garyn has done homework at and we have had many picnics on.

 

 

 

Now onto week 10!

 

 

Week 10:

   This week was sheet rock week! The house looked so different after it was hung. We were able to see the rooms as they would actually be when we move in. The sheet rock instantly made everything look smaller! But I was told that would happen.

 

Looking into the family room from the playroom, fireplace is covered.

Box cut out in wall is the one Tyler did for our TV boxes.

kitchen wall I believe......

 

 

Whew! Finally got all that out! And now we are already on week 14 so I have got to update more! Guess I better go get started........stay tuned :)

Month by Month : Layne's 2 months

I have so many updates I want to do on here but just can't seem to ever find the time! And then I remind myself that I 1: have a new kindergartner whose school happens to be 20+ mins away 2: have a 2 yr old I am trying to potty train, 3: have a 2 month old, and 4: building a house and will be moving soon. If that's not enough to keep me busy than I don't want to see what busy really means!

On to talking about my precious 2 month old....

Layne is still pretty easy going. He sleeps well in his bed or on the bed propped up in the boppy pillow. The only time he has to be held to sleep is around dinner time, he is fussier then and won't let you put him down much. He definitely uses his paci but doesn't seem as attached to it as his siblings were. At night, from about 10 pm to 6 am, he rarely uses the pacifier.

 

Speaking of nighttime, Layne will do about a 5-6 hr stretch most nights. If I make sure he eats sometime between 10-11 pm, then he will sleep til 2-3 am for me. In between feedings he is out! He rarely opens his eyes or even cry really. Early mornings, he sometimes fusses and wiggles when I lay him down. I may just not remember, but I don't think Ansley or Garyn were sleeping this well at this age. In fact, I was telling someone that this is the longest I have kept a baby in the room with us because they usually fuss and stir keeping me awake. Just another answer to prayer since he doesn't have a room to move to!

Layne is smiling all the time now. He likes to be talked to and is starting to like little toys to look at. He moves constantly when awake unless you are walking with him and then he just studies everything. But he likes to kick and flap his arms; doing his exercises as I call it.

(first time in BeBe Pod)

He still eats about every 3 hours and has done well taking the bottle when I work or at church and things. At his 2 month appointment, he weighed 13 lbs 7 oz and was 24 inches. He didn't keep up with Garyn this time; Garyn was 14 lbs 4 oz at 2 months. (Which, if you remember at 1 mo. he was 9 lb 4 oz, making that a 5 lb gain!) And little Ansley was just 10 lbs at 2 months, of course she is a girl and will naturally be smaller.

 

I still think he looks a lot like Tyler and Garyn. His hair has started coming back on top and looks dark. His eyes also seem to be turning darker. We shall see if Tyler gets a dark-haired brown-eyed child finally! I see similarities for all of them but differences as well.

(all 3 in order by age and all right at 2 months old)

 

Having Layne here seems so natural and I am blessed to have three sweet babies to love and care for. They make everyday interesting that's for sure!

 

He already has changed, almost doesn't look like the same baby!